Jeremy Abbott falls hard but finishes

SOCHI, Russia -- U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott fell hard on an attempted quadruple toe loop Thursday in the men's short program at the Olympics, yet finished the routine.

Abbott crashed to the ice on his first jump and slid into the padded end boards, staying down for an extended period, clutching his right hip. It looked as though he wouldn't get up, and his coaches moved toward the entry door to the ice.

But Abbott, 28, struggled to his feet and, to the surprise of many and the applause of the crowd, resumed skating. And he performed quite well, hitting the rest of his elements.

When his music stopped, the four-time U.S. champ drew a huge ovation from the fans. He hit himself lightly in the head while shaking it, as if to say he couldn't believe what had happened.

He wound up in 15th place.

"I'm not in the least bit ashamed," Abbott said. "I stood up and I finished that program, and I'm proud of my effort and I'm proud of what I did under the circumstance."

Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu became the first skater to break the 100-point mark with a spectacular performance. He earned 101.45 points with a playful, almost seductive routine in which he seemed to float above the ice.

Three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada was second, four points behind. Javier Fernandez of Spain, a country that's never won an Olympic figure skating medal, was third with 86.98.

"I was so surprised with my score," Hanyu said. "I didn't know I got over 100."

American Jason Brown, meanwhile, put on the performance of his young skating career to finish sixth. He's within the width of a skate blade of third heading into Friday's free skate.

"All year in this program, in every competition I have gone to, I have gotten a personal best," the 19-year-old Brown said. "I didn't want to stop in the Olympics."